<< Back to index Good healthBy Guardian reporter DAVENANT Foundation School is the first secondary school in Essex to be awarded the National Healthy School Standard.
Three assessors spent a day at the Loughton school interviewing students, staff, parents and governors about the eight themes covered by the standard � including drugs education, emotional health and wellbeing, healthy eating, safety, physical activity and sex and relationship education.
The school's personal, social, health and citizenship education programme was also under scrutiny. The team observed lessons, lunchtime activities and a debating competition.
The school's progress was judged against a number of objectives.
Pastoral care was deemed to be very good, with special praise given to mentoring and listening schemes run by students for their peers.
Communication was found to be positive and much progress had been made against an Action Plan drawn up 18 months ago.
A task group consisting of staff, students and a parent and governor carried out an audit of the entire school from which five areas for action were drawn up � sport, provision of drinking water, uniform, catering and food, and toilet facilities.
The views of the students were sought through student councils and put into action by the group.
Year 10 student Eleanor Hayes said: "We've been able to make a real difference to the health of the whole school. Students are encouraged to bring water to drink and we know it helps us concentrate in class.
"Our canteen facilities are changing because of our input and we have visited another school to learn from what they do."
Year 9 student Danielle Ford, who was presented with a Jack Petchey Foundation award for her work with the task group, said: "I'm really pleased that students have a say in the life of the school and that we have been judged a healthy school. People here really do care for each other."
Deputy headteacher Sally Lynch, delighted with the award, said: "The assessment covered the whole school, its ethos, curriculum, pastoral care, facilities and environment.
"As a Christian school we value every individual and aim to care for the whole person in every aspect of their life.
"This award affirms all that we do within our school vision."
1:02am Sunday 20th July 2003
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